February 25, 2026
BY Bonnie McDonald, President & CEO
Landmarks Illinois Statement Regarding White House Ballroom Public Comment & other federal efforts to Dismantle and Deregulate Federal Preservation Programs
The October 22, 2025, demolition of the White House East Wing façade to accommodate a 90,000-square-foot ballroom addition shocked the nation and beyond. The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed an injunction in December 2025, arguing that the Trump Administration violated the law by proceeding with demolition prior to the required regulatory review for new construction at the White House. The public is being asked to weigh in on the “East Wing Modernization” project by March 4, 2026. Read below for instructions on how to submit your comments. But there is more to be concerned about than just the White House.
Just three weeks after the East Wing’s destruction, President Trump announced plans to “beautify” the exterior stone of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB) by painting it white. Cultural Heritage Partners and the DC Preservation League filed an injunction to prevent the administration from proceeding with the painting project before complying with legally required regulatory review. The suit was voluntarily withdrawn in December 2025 after the General Services Administration committed to hold off on taking action until March 1, 2026.
Both the White House and the EEOB are National Historic Landmarks, designated in 1960 and 1969 respectively, because they are considered places of national significance to telling the American story. Their designation affords the public an opportunity to provide input about what happens to these historic buildings, which are owned by the people of the United States. But, as the need for public dialogue and input into government decisions is in the spotlight, there is a concurrent political effort to diminish these regulations.
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act requires federal agencies to consult with the public on actions affecting federally designated landmarks. While the White House and certain other federal buildings in Washington are notably exempt from Section 106 review, for other historic places, Section 106 provides a meaningful opportunity for the public to provide input on what happens to the places that embody our shared history. The current political effort to undermine Section 106 is concerning, however.
On October 29, 2025, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a public hearing to examine the Section 106 consultation process and “the need to improve the process’ predictability and certainty.” Representatives from state, utility, and tribal interests testified about the delays and frustration that Section 106 can cause for permit applicants, but also the need for this tool to ensure that “We the People” have agency in informing our government what we want for our communities.
Efforts to Dismantle and Deregulate Federal Preservation Program
Just one year after the unprecedented layoffs of thousands of National Park Service workers, the federal preservation program is in a continually precarious state. The threat to Section 106 is part of a larger deregulation push that has far-reaching implications that could diminish local input, agency and the requirement to avoid harming our nation’s historic and cultural resources. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was the first in the administration’s sights, now sections of the National Historic Preservation Act. We ask, what is next?
Section 4(f) of the Federal Highway Transportation Act is one of the strongest policies in our toolbox that requires federally funded or permitted federal transportation projects to avoid destroying historic and cultural resources unless there is no prudent and feasible alternative. In 2017, President Trump’s tax reform initiative called for ending the federal historic and non-historic tax credit programs. The former was saved, but the 10 percent non-historic tax credit was wiped away, denying a useful tool for countless commercial properties ineligible for the National Register.
The federal budgeting process is a similar weapon that could be wielded to weaken preservation at the state and local level. Denying federal pass-through funding for State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices — creating a ruse that federal funds are duplicative to state and tribal support — will have cataclysmic downstream impacts in states and tribal nations.
Can we get out in front of these presumptive targets while also saving and improving what we have? Landmarks Illinois has been monitoring and sharing federal policy initiatives with our community over the past year. We will continue to do so.
What can you do? Make your voice heard.
- Register to speak at the March 5 NCPC meeting. You must register to speak by Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. Eastern. Visit the NCPC participation page. Select the blue “Register to Speak at a Meeting” button. When completing the form, select “East Wing Modernization” for the “Select Projects” field dropdown. The March 5 meeting will be virtual, but you must register in advance to speak. Comments made be submitted as plain text or as a PDF.
- The public can comment on the White House “East Wing Modernization” project. Submit your comments to the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) by Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. Eastern. Visit the NCPC participation page and select the blue “Submit Written Comments” button. When completing the form, select “East Wing Modernization” for the “Select Projects” field dropdown. Comments may be submitted as plain text or as a PDF.
- Continue to contact your members of Congress. Speak up for the need for regulatory review processes to ensure the public input that we value in our democracy. Preservation Action, preservation’s national lobbying organization, has resources available on its website to understand preservation legislation and how to find and talk with your member of Congress.
- Learn more about the federal preservation program to understand our regulations, their value and how they can be improved. Consult the websites of the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers and the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers.
- Talk with Landmarks Illinois about your experiences with the federal preservation program, including regulations and incentives. Send your comments to advocacy@landmarks.org. We will collect examples to use as testimony and to improve regulations to make them more accessible, equitable and efficient.